The legend of the light ninja

Chapter Four | Weapons of Destiny

*I DO NOT OWN THE NINJAGO UNIVERSE AND ITS PAST, PRESENT AND EMERGING CHARACTERS. AND THE PLOT OF THE SHOW. I ONLY OWN MY CURRENT CHARACTER | SAMUEL JASON HOLLAND. *

Wu woke up suddenly in the dimly lit depths of the Underworld. The air was thick with oppressive darkness, punctuated only by the faint flicker of torches mounted on crude wooden bridges spanning chasms of shadow. He slowly sat up, feeling the weight of the Sword of Fire by his side–a constant reminder of the peril he faced.

"Hmm... the Underworld," Wu muttered quietly, taking in his surroundings cautiously. He could hear the echoing footsteps of Skulkin warriors nearby, their skeletal forms silhouetted against the eerie glow of the torchlight. Knowing he needed to remain unseen, Wu quickly wrapped the Sword of Fire in a cloth and tucked it securely under his arm.

As Wu stealthily navigated through the twisting pathways of the Underworld, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The ground beneath his feet was uneven and treacherous, with jagged rocks jutting from the blackened earth. The air was thick with a chilling silence, broken only by the occasional distant howl or the clattering of bones as Skulkin patrols passed.

The journey to the Fire Temple had been fraught with tension and urgency. As Jay, Zane, Sam and Cole arrive at the temple grounds. They were praying to find Kai and Wu safe, and that the Sword of Fire be secured. Sam's footsteps echoed softly against the stone steps as he ascended towards the Fire Temple. His breath came in a steady rhythm.

"Kai! Sensei!" Sam called out when he reached the top of the stairs; his voice echoed faintly in the large space of the temple entrance. His eyes swept over the scene before him – a tableau of flickering torchlight and shadows dancing on the weathered stone.

Zane stood with an air of quiet contemplation, his gaze fixed on the dimly lit interior of the temple. "The Sword of Fire was here," Zane intoned, his voice carrying a quiet note, "as well as our friends, but I only sense loss. We are too late. The Elemental Weapons have left this realm and are now in the Underworld. The end is drawing near."

Cole's voice cut through the solemnity, tinged with a hint of frustration. "Ugh...great. The one place no mortal can cross over," he muttered, his words echoing the sentiment that they faced a seemingly impossible challenge.

Within the Fire Temple, Kai's voice rang out unexpectedly, drawing their attention. "We might not be able to cross over..."Kai began, his voice trailing off as the heavy doors swung open before him. Light spilled into the gathering dusk, revealing Kai, Nya, and the towering form of the Fire Dragon silhouetted against the fading daylight.
The Fire Dragon, its scales shimmering with hues of crimson and gold, moved with a grace that belied its immense size. Its eyes gleamed with otherworldly intelligence.

Sam stood rooted to the spot, momentarily astonished by the Fire Dragon's graceful approach. The fire dragon's eyes locked onto Sam with a knowing gaze, and without hesitation, it bounded towards him with surprising agility for its size.

"Whoa!" Cole's voice cracked as he instinctively scrambled behind a stone pillar, his back pressed firmly against its rough surface. His eyes widened as the dragon approached, the heat of its presence prickling his skin.
Jay and Zane exchanged wide-eyed glances, instinctively taking a few hurried steps back, unsure of the dragon's intent.

Nya, however, had stood her ground with a sense of reverence in her voice. "Our father used to tell us stories about the dragons," she explained calmly, her voice carrying over the tense silence. "He said they were mythical creatures that belonged to both worlds, ferrying between them."

The Fire Dragon lowered its massive head toward Sam, nuzzling gently against his chest. Sam rested a steady hand on the dragon's snout, feeling the warmth radiating from its scales and the rhythmic rise and fall of its breath. Despite its immense size, the dragon's gesture carried a surprising tenderness.